Electrical switch.



H. R. GILSON.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 00117, 1912.

1 ,082,021 Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY R. GILSON, OIF-BADEN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL METAL HOLDING COMPANY, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPGRATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

Specioati'on of Lettere I'atent.

Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

-To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY R. GILsoN, residing at Baden, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, a citizen of. the United States, have invented or discovered certain new and` useful Improvements 1n Electrical Switches, of which improvement the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical snap switches, and the obj-ect thereof is to provide an eiiicient quick-make and quickbreak switch comprlsing a. minimum number of parts.

In the accompanying drawing,Y which illustrates my invention, and which forms part of my specification, Figures 1 and 2 are plan view and elevation, respectively, of one embodiment of my improved switch, shown in connection "with an electrical conductor conduit; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the li-ne III-III,'Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line IV-IV, Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a right end view of the switch, the end closing ieee being removed; and Fig. 6 is a plan view of a metal blank 'from which one element of the switch is formed.

In the several fi ures like numerals are used to designate li e parts.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated herein the several parts of the switch are assembled within a suitable box-shaped block of insulation 1, which is connected to a two-piece electrical conductor conduit 2 by means of screws 3 engaging said block 1 and a Het plate 4 beneath said conduit. The switch is arranged to open and close a circuit through the conductors 5, 6, which are connected to suitable terminals 7, 8, respectively, separated by means of. a partition or tongue 9 of said insulating block 1. The terminals 7, 8 are electrically connected to resilient ears 10, extending into the interior of the block 1 and adapted to receive a bridge 11 of conducting material for completing the circuit.

The bridge 11 preferably consists of a U- shaped member, pivoted, as at 12, to the trunnions 13 of a rocking switch-operating member, said trunnions in turn being pivotally mounted in suitable bearings on the upper central surface of said insulating block 1. The manipulating portion of said switch operating member is a cylindrical handle 14, extending between arms 15 which are rigidly secured to the outer ends of the trunnions I3. The inner ends of said trunnions also have arms 16, rigidly secured thereto, and preferably extending in the same directions as said arms 15. Between the arms 16 and rigidly secured to each is a plate 17 having its upper surface preferab y ing in three planes, as shown in Fig. 3. T e plate 17 is provided with a longitudinal slot 18, extending through the central plane surface of said` plate and into the adjoining surfaces thereof, through which slot a link of insulatin material 19 extends, said link carrying ro lers 20 at its outer end and being connected at its inner end to a coil spring 21, which in turn is connected to the outer end of the bridge 11. A suitable cover 22 is secured to the block 1 by means of screws 23; and an end closure 24, faced with a layer of insulating material 25, is secured to the lid 22 by a screw 26.

In the full line position of the switch, as shown in Fig. 3, the circuit is open. To close the circuit` the handle 14 is moved-in the are of a circle from left to right, and by such movement the bridge 11 is swung to its dotted line position. The movement of the switch operating member, as described, causes the left plane face of the plate 17 to rise until the inclination thereof 1s downwardto the right, as the line of connection between the bridge 11 and the roller 20 passes to the right side of the pivot point 12, the roller-provided link 19 snaps quickly to the other end of the slot 18 and simultaneously therewith the bridge 11 is drawn to its reverse position. In breaking the circuit the handle 14 is moved from right to left, as shown in the drawings, the operation being the reverse of that described above.

In the operation of the switch it will be seen that the ridges formed at the intersection of the central and plane faces of the plate 17 are effective to prevent a movement of the roller 20 until the line of connection mentioned above has passed to the other side of the pivot point 12. Furthermore it will be seen that, after this critical position has been reached, the inclination of the central plane face of the rocking plate 17 is so steep that the stopping of the roller upon a dead center impossible.

In order to facilitate the manufacture of switch and reduce the number of parts thereof the trunnions 13, arms 15 and 16, and plate 17 may be made by suitable metalpressing machinery from a single blank of metal such asshown in Fig. 6. ln torming this blank into such switch-operating member, the arms l'of said blank are bent at right angles to the larger portionslfzEl of the blank, which are pressed into cylinders forming the trunnions 13. v,'llhe portions 16a are also bent at right angles to the trunnion-forming portions 13a, and further bent` at right angles tothe plate-forming portion 17a., Suitable lugs 27 may becut in the armforming portions 16, such lugs being properly shaped to form pivot-axles, for the bridge 1l, which maybe pivoted thereto through interposed sleeves of insulation.

It will be understood that many modifications, suitable to the desired installations and conditions of service, may be made in the illustrative embodiment of my invention without departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed.

I claim as my inventionl. ln an electrical snap switch, the combination with an insulating block, of a pair of conductor terminals, a pivoted bridge ef.

ective when in one position to close a circuit between said terminals, a rocking switch-operating member including an extended spring-sustainin'g surface having an arcuate movement in the general line of its extent, a spring having 'a fixed conhection at one end to said bridge, the other end of said sprin being sustained by said surface and mova le thereon when the switch is thrown.

2. ln an electrical snap switch, the cornneaaoat bination with an insulating-block, of a pair of conductor terminals, a pivoted bridge eltfective when in one positlon to close a cir-v cuit 'tbetween said terminals, a rocking switch-operating member including an ein' bination with an insulating block, of a pair of conductor terminals, a pivoted bridge effective when in one position to close a circuit between said terminals, a rocking.

switch-operating member including a plate having a slot therein, a member bearing upon and movable over said plate, and a spring connecting through saidslot the last named member with said bridge.

d. lln an electrical switch the combina-v tion with an insulating block, of a pairot conductor terminals, a pivoted bridge, a

rocking switch-operating member consisting or a trunnion having a manipulating arm at one side and a spring-sustaining plate at the other side thereof, said several parts ot said switch operating member being formed from a single plate, and a spring connecting said bridge with said-plate.

ln testimony whereof ll have hereunto set my hand.

HENRY llt. GILSN.

Witnesses:

Francis d.. 'llonassom d.. ll-llnnnnnr lhnannnr..

lanefaced between said ridges, a' 

